It might be specifically designed for kids and the elderly, but the clean design and oversized keypad of the iNO CP09 mobile phone makes me want one for those times when I need to stay in touch, but don’t want a lot of bells and whistles. In addition to the easy to read buttons, the CP09 features a basic, though detailed, monochrome LCD display with an orange backlight, as well as an FM radio with a standard headphone jack on the bottom of the phone. And in the event of an emergency, there’s a dedicated ‘SOS’ button on the back which sounds an alarm and contacts a pre-programmed phone number when pressed.

[ iNO CP09 ] VIA [ Newlaunches ]

The HomeFinder screw-in light controller from Westek might seem like a simple idea, but if you live with family members who may one day need the assitance of paramedics, it might end up being an invaluable tool.

It screws into a light socket and accepts a standard bulb, and when the light switch is flipped twice the unit will flash for 20 minutes making it easier for emergency assistance to find your home, or even someone less vital like the pizza delivery guy. The flashing can be cancelled at any time by simply turning the switch off, and there’s a sensor to ensure it only turns on after dusk. $10.91 from Amazon.

And here’s a little known fact, I actually spent three weeks as the prime suspect in a ‘porchlight flasher’ case, but I was eventually exonerated when the police realized I never actually leave this computer. So not only does blogging pay the bills, but it also turns out to be a pretty solid alibi!

*True story!

*Note: Story may not be true.

[ Westek HomeFinder Screw-In Light Control ] VIA [ GadgetGrid ]

I’m all for the pros when it comes to compact fluorescent lighting, but most people don’t realize just how dangerous mercury vapor can be when a bulb breaks. Not the people at ClearLite though. They’ve created a new CFL bulb called the ArmorLite (SRP $7.99) that features a silicone safety shell preventing broken glass and mercury from escaping if the bulb breaks. Unfortunately while it’s a clever solution to the problem, it’s not a perfect one. The silicone shell will require extra steps when it comes to disposal, and it will no doubt have an adverse affect on the lumen rating and color temperature of each bulb. But it’s a step in the right direction.

[ ClearLite ArmorLite CFL Bulbs ] VIA [ Crave ]

So I guess Japan is really serious about bicycle safety, so much so that Honda developed this bicycle safety simulator that allows riders of all ages to learn proper traffic rules and manners before they get on the road. The simulator includes different courses and scenarios like “going to school” or “going to the grocery store” and a rear mounted LCD even allows riders to see traffic coming up behind them. The simulators will be available from Honda starting in February of 2010 for an undisclosed price, though pre-orders will be taken starting in November.

[ FarEastGizmos - Honda Bicycle Simulator offers realistic experiences for user groups of different ages ]

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m quite fond of my parent’s dog who’s basically another member of the family, but I’m not entirely sure if I’d be willing to spend $475 on this evacuation jacket that’s supposed to make him easier to handle in the event of an emergency. Firstly, he’s almost 100 pounds and these look like they’re designed for little yap dogs, and secondly, in the event of an emergency like a fire or earthquake, I don’t want to waste valuable time trying to wrestle him into this thing.

Now granted, the jacket is made from the same flame-retardant material that firefighters in Japan wear, and it comes with pockets stuffed with everything from sealed water packs, to nutrition bars, to first-aid materials, to rubber booties and even a water bowl. So in the event of a worst-case-scenario it does seem that your pet will be prepared, but $500 (including shipping) from the Japan Trend Shop still seems like an awful lot.

[ Pet Emergency Evacuation Jacket ]

By David Ponce

After news reports that iPhone and iPod products have been exploding and injuring at least one, now comes a video from someone in China that purports to show an iMac smoking and nearly catching fire. From what I can understand, first the screen started to smoke, then went blank. The user unplugged it and captured the above video (fittingly) with with iPhone 3G S.

Other than that there aren’t more details.

[ Original Report (Translated) ] VIA [ Cloned In China ]

According to a recent article on the New York Times website, getting hit in the head with a baseball traveling at a ‘mere’ 32 MPH will result in a skull fracture every time. So you’d expect that major league ball players would want the utmost protection for their heads when they step up to bat, like the new S100 helmet from Rawlings which can protect an athlete’s head from a 100MPH pitch thrown from just 24 inches away. But surprisingly when the helmet was shown to some MLB players they scoffed at the new design citing concerns that the extra padding was too bulky and too geeky-looking… Seriously?

[ NYTimes.com - Safer Batting Helmet Draws Resistance From Some Players ] VIA [ Popular Science ]

I completely agree with the thinking behind this combination bedside fire alarm and alarm clock. If there’s ever a fire in my home, I don’t want to have to rely on hearing a smoke detector that’s located somewhere else in the house. So this device actually listens for your existing smoke alarm, and when it goes off it starts blaring its own 90 decibel alarm which is sure to wake even the heaviest of sleepers.

And if that doesn’t work, the included vibrating bed shaker can be placed under your mattress pad or your pillow and will be activated whenever the unit’s audible alarm sounds. At $179 from Frontgate it’s a bit steep for an alarm clock, but it’s another one of those ‘how can you put a price tag on peace of mind?’ devices.

[ Bedside Fire Alarm And Clock ] VIA [ The Red Ferret Journal ]

The most dangerous thing I ride on a daily basis is the subway, and a helmet isn’t going to protect me from the hazards I encounter down there, which is too bad, since I really need a reason to justify buying one of these transforming EXO-900 models from Scorpion. Its three modes include a full face helmet, a flip front modular and a 3/4 helmet making it suitable for use all year round on anything from a superbike to a Vespa.

The EverClear No-Fog Faceshield uses state-of-the-art fog free technology and the retractable SpeedView Sun Visor features an anti-scratch hardened coating, and both can be easily removed or attached without the use of any tools. The helmet also features a moisture-wicking breathable liner as well as the AirFit helmet pump inflation system for a perfect custom fit. Depending on the finish and color options the Scorpion EXO-900 sells from about $270 to $280, and while I’m not sure if that’s expensive for a helmet, it seems reasonable for what is essentially the most important thing you can wear while riding.

[ Scorpion EXO-900 ] VIA [ Acquire ]

Worried about plugging your laptop into a sketchy power outlet when traveling but don’t want to carry around a bulky surge protecting power bar wherever you go? These tiny ElectraShields connect between your laptop’s power cord and power brick and feature an indicator light letting you know it’s protecting your hardware from power surges.

When the light’s gone out, you’ll know that a potentially harmful surge has occurred, but instead of sending your laptop in for repairs you’ll simply have to replace the ElectraShields since they don’t feature a reset button. But at just $9.95 each from X-treme Geeks that’s not so painful.

[ ElectraShields Laptop Surge Protectors ] VIA [ The Gadgeteer ]